BGB Allowed to Procure Sound Grenades and Tear Gas: Adviser

Home Affairs Adviser, retired Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, briefed journalists today after a meeting on law and order at the Secretariat office. Photo: PID

The government has approved the procurement of sound grenades and tear gas canisters for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Home Affairs Adviser retired Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced today. He explained that this decision aligns with the practices of India's Border Security Force (BSF), which has long used similar weapons along the Bangladesh-India border.

“We have granted approval for the BGB to purchase sound grenades and tear gas canisters,” Chowdhury told reporters after a law and order meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

When asked about potential reactions from India, Chowdhury emphasized that India would have no reason to view the move negatively, as their BSF already employs these weapons along the frontier.

The adviser noted that the BGB is currently equipped with lethal weapons to respond to critical situations, but he reiterated that the newly procured non-lethal devices would only be used when necessary. “Why would the BGB not use these weapons if needed once they are purchased?” he questioned.

Chowdhury further assured that the overall border situation remains stable, saying, “There is no major issue on the border.”

Sound grenades, also known as stun grenades, are designed to temporarily disorient individuals with a loud noise, while tear gas causes irritation and discomfort, leading to tearing, burning sensations, and difficulty breathing.